Masakage Kiri Gyuto 210mm

Made by veteran blacksmith Hiroshi Kato San this gyuto is a real beauty. Kiri means mist in Japanese and this is perfectly portrayed by the damascus stainless cladding that protects the VG10 core steel. This is a low maintenance knife due to being completely stainless, cuts well and will stay sharp for a long time thanks to the qualities of the VG10 core.

What we thought about this knife

We have personally tested and reviewed this knife to give you an honest and personal opinion about it and this is how it rates. Remember these scores are a reflection of the company these knives keep, all our knives are great (or we wouldn't sell them) but we can't give them all 5/5. A low score doesn't mean it's a poor knife, it just might be out-trumped by one of our other amazing knives.

4 / 5Overall performance

VG10 is a steel that was invented especially for the cutlery business, it has an ability to hold and maintain an edge for a long time. The Kiri knives are thin behind the edge so performance is great. It can be a little difficult to sharpen VG10 if you want it back to its out of the box sharpness but with a little practice it can be done, just make sure you have the right tools.

5 / 5Beauty

Kiri means mist in Japanese and the blades on these knives resemble that by creative use of the damascus cladding. This creates a beautiful swirling pattern that's pleasing to the eye and will look great in the kitchen! The handle is the same as on the Yuki range, an oval white magnolia handle with a red pakka wood ferrule, it looks very striking against the blade and creates a very fresh looking knife.

4 / 5Durability

VG10 steel has the ability to hold and maintain an edge for a long time making it one of the best for durability, it is incredibly hard though meaning it can chip if you hit a bone or similar. The knife will hold its edge for a long time but when it comes to sharpening VG10 can be a little tricky if you want to get it screamingly sharp again. You need to have the right tools for the job so some research may be needed into the correct technique in order to get the best results.

5 / 5Ease of care

VG10 is one of the easiest steels to care for due to its stainless qualities. The Kiri range is clad in a softer stainless steel making the whole knife a breeze to look after. The usual rules apply though, no dishwashers and no leaving it in pools of water!

5 / 5Comfort

The oval handle is very comfortable to use whether you are left or right handed and the heel of the knife and the spine (right where you'll have your fingers in a pinch grip) have been rounded slightly to avoid discomfort, a real annoyance on cheap or badly made knives. These knives are also quite light so you should be able to happily use them for a long time without fatigue.

5 / 5Value for money

Easy to care for and great looking, what more could you ask for? The fit and finish is superb as is always the case with the Masakage knives and with the benefit of being made by such an experienced blacksmith we feel that the price is great.

Our aim is to measure everything as accurately as possible but some specifications (such as hardness for example) are provided by the manufacturer and therefore should be used as a guide only.

What you get with the knife

Beautiful blue fibre boxes with the Masakage logo and name in silver foil on the lid. On the inside you will find a blue stepped inlay and your beautiful knife of course, wrapped in Japanese newspaper by the craftsmen who made it. So while you're not working on your knife skills you can catch up your Japanese language skills. Talk about the gift that keeps on giving...

All our knives also come with free blue plasters just in case you're not ready for the sharpness! If you intend to use your knives regularly then we don't advise you to use the boxes for day to day storage, get a magnetic knife rack instead.

Still need some advice choosing the right knife?

We want you to be happy that you're buying the right knife for your cooking needs so if you're not sure what you need, here are some useful places to start.